upcoming dates
September 14, 2016
October 1, 2016
October 3, 2016
October 15-16, 2016
Deadline for reduced rate at Arrowwood Lodge
Deadline to register for the LOMP Fall Meeting
Deadline to submit poems for critique at Fall Meeting
LOMP Fall Meeting, Arrowwood Lodge, Baxter
A Quarterly Publication of the League of Minnesota Poets
about us >>>
LOMP FALL MEETING OCTOBER 15-16
League of Minnesota Poets
(LOMP), organized in 1934,
holds biannual meetings,
supports regional chapters in
Minnesota, and publishes the
Moccasin poem anthology.
Friday, October 14
www.mnpoets.com
Advertising Rates:
Fees for an 2.5” x 5” ad are
$25 for members, $35 for
non-members. There can be no
more than 8 ads per edition.
AUGUST 2016
Join the League of Minnesota Poets the weekend of October 15-16 for a gathering at
Arrowwood Lodge, 6967 Lake Forest Rd, Baxter.
6:00 pm
Dinner (at your own expense) and Open Mic for Early Bird Attendees
Last Turn Saloon, 214 8th St S, Brainerd (Open to the public)
Saturday, October 15
8:30 am
Registration
9:00 am
Poetry & Participation—Heartland Poets
Board Meeting (Bait & Tackle Room)
membership >>>
10:15 am
NFSPS 2016 Reports—Meredith Cook and Peter Stein
Annual membership fee:
$20 ($10 for K-12 students)
11:oo am
Special Report / Session—Peter Stein and Board Members
12 noon
Buffet lunch (Ojibwa Room, next to Bait & Tackle Room)
1:30 pm
Keynote Poet—LouAnn Muhm, followed by book-signing
3:30 pm
LOMP Annual Contest Results—Peter Stein
5:30 pm
Dinner (Club Room)
7:30 pm
LOMP Annual Contest Finale—Peter Stein
Evening
Informal read-around for those who can’t get enough
Membership includes the
quarterly newsletter,
LOMPLighter, National
Federation of State Poetry
Societies membership, and
the NFSPS annual publication,
Strophes.
Mail fees to LOMP Treasurer
Mary Schmidt
4921 33rd Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55417
Sunday, October 16
8:30 am
Poetry & Participation / 2nd Board Meeting (if necessary)
chapters >>>
9:30 am
Poetry Critique session of anonymously-submitted poems
11:30 am
Door prizes/Wrap up
Heartland Poets ... Brainerd Lakes
Noon
Board members’ Strategic Planning Session (Bait & Tackle Room)
Mississippi Valley Poets &
Writers ...................... Twin Cities
Southeastern Minnesota
Poets ........................... Rochester
Southern Minnesota Poets
Society ......................... Mankato
Grand View Poets
.................. St. Cloud/Sartell
Cracked Walnut
.......................... Twin Cities
From your President >>>
I joined the League of Minnesota Poets in the fall of October 2009. At the time I had no idea that the League
had recently held a national poetry convention in Duluth, but soon heard about the event and the effort the
League put forth to host such an event along with programs and speakers that were a part of it. In 2011, I
made the trek to Dearborn, Michigan for my first National Federation of State Poets Societies Convention
and have been enjoying them since.
When the opportunity presented itself to host here in Minnesota, I was on board with co-chairing the event
with Susan Chambers. At the time I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but was excited to put
together a convention of this scale to showcase the talent of our local poets to a national audience. It was not
without its challenges, but with the help and support of so many League members, we were able to put on a
successful convention. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and I am proud of what our organization
accomplished. While the names are too numerous to list, on behalf of the League, we thank you.
Now that the convention is behind us, we are already looking forward and planning what is in store for the
League down the road. As a board, we have started to meet and carry on dialogues in addition to our usual
spring and fall meetings. Specifically we are looking at how to improve our connection with members, and
how to keep them connected with each other. We’re also taking a look at all we do, what is working well,
and what we could improve upon.
The strength of our organization lies in its members. I am happy to say that our membership is higher than it
has been in years. It is my job, and the job of the board, to serve those members. We are an organization that
is entirely volunteer run, which is unique. It also means that we depend upon members for support. If you are
willing to help out or volunteer, please let us know. We also would like to hear your input and comments
about what you’d like to see from the organization. We want to know and share what is going on with our
members. Have you recently published a book, won an award, or have an upcoming event? We’d like to
help spread the word. We’re including a section on it in our newsletter as well as promoting member news
and events on Facebook, so please let us know and we’ll give you a shout out. Reach out to us at
[email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Peter Stein, League of Minnesota Poets President
MEMBER SHOUT OUTS
Rebecca Ramsden’s poem
Generator Replacement-Flight
Suit Upgrade won first place
in the Creekside Poetry contest.
Join her in a celebratory reading
of the contest winners on
Saturday, August 27, 4pm
at the Creekside Community
Center, 9801 Penn Ave S,
Bloomington, MN.
Evelyn Klein will be a part of the
2016 Author Expo, Saturday,
October 1, 9:30 – 12:30pm at the
R. H. Stafford Library, 8595
Central Park Place, Woodbury,
MN. This event is an opportunity
for local authors to promote, sell,
and discuss their works with area
residents.
Peter Stein took second place for
his poem Housewarming in the
Talking Stick Volume 25 publication. Join him and other League
members for the Book Release
Party on Saturday, September 17,
1pm at The Patio near Hubbard,
MN.
2016 ANNUAL NFSPS CONTEST WINNERS
Charles Johnson, Brainerd: William Stafford Memorial Award (HM)
Christina Flaugher, Mapleton: Alabama Poetry Society Award (HM),
American Indian Heritage Award (HM), Poetry Society of Oklahoma
Award (HM)
Deborah Rasmussen, Duluth: Winners Circle (HM), LOMP Award (HM)
Dennis Herschbach, Sartell: Al Laster Memorial Award (1st)
Doris Stengel, Brainerd: Poets Roundtable of Arkansas Award (3rd)
Ellen Lager, Robbinsdale: NFSPS Founders Award (HM), Utah Poetry
Society Award (2nd)
Jennifer Hernandez, New Hope: Florida State Poets Award HM)
Laura Hansen, Little Falls: Margo Award (HM), LOMP Award (HM), New
York Poetry Forum Award (HM)
Mary Willette Hughes, Sartell: Margo Award (HM), Utah Poetry Society
Award (1st)
Meredith R Cook, Blue Earth: New York Poetry Forum Award (HM), Poets
Roundtable of Arkansas Award (HM), Massachusetts Poetry Society Award
(HM), Wyopoets Award (HM)
Thank You
2016 CONVENTION SPONSORS
Do-Good Mailing Services
do-good.biz
Lisa Cassman
teacher, speaker, minister and author
lisacassman.net
Char Donovan
poet and author of Tumbled Dry
www.charmainedonovan.com
Susan Chambers
author of good thunder, blue earth
Tom & Steve Stremski
State Farm Insurance Agents
www.stevestremski.com
www.tomstremski.com
True Nature Design
Micki Blenkush, St. Cloud: Florida Poets Award (1st), ISFPC Diamond
Anniversary Award (3rd), American Indian Heritage Award (HM), Alice
Makenzie Swaim Memorial (HM), Gingerbread Poets Award (HM)
landscape design and management
truenaturedesignonline.com
Sister Rafael Tilton, Rochester: Louisiana Poetry Society Award (HM),
Illinois Poetry Society Award (HM), Minute Award (2nd)
author, teacher and grandfather
john.rezmerski.com
Robert La Fleur, Ponsford: NFSPS Board Award (2nd), LOMP Award (HM)
Ruth M Schmidt-Baeumler, Two Harbors: LOMP Award (HM), Columbine
Poets of Colorado Award (HM)
Sandy Bot-Miller, St. Cloud: Winners Circle Award (HM), Morton D
Prouty & Elsie S Prouty Memorial Award (HM)
Steven R Vogel, Rochester: Louisiana Poetry Society Award (3rd), Poetry
Society of Oklahoma Award (1st)
Susan Stevens Chambers, Good Thunder: Brown-Eyed Girl Contest (HM),
Poetry Society of Michigan Award (HM)
John Rezmerski
Di’s Print and Web Solutions
www.disprint.com
Poem by Post
www.poembypost.com
Howard Parker Associates
serving the hospitality industry
www.howardparkerassoc.com
National League of American Pen
Women, Minnesota Branch
www.mn-penwomen.org
Mizna
a forum for Arab-American art
www.mizna.org
Beard Poetry
a small Minnesota press featuring good
books by good folks
www.beardpoetry.com
Red Bird Chapbooks
LOMP members Peter Stein, Henry Panowitsch and Sue Chambers share Minnesota
magnetism with Natalie Goldberg (center) and Armely Matas (far right) at the 2016
NFSPS Convention.
a nonprofit publisher of chapbooks
www.redbirdchapbooks.com
About LOMP
officers >>>
PRESIDENT: Peter Stein
[email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT:
Amanda Bailey
[email protected]
SECRETARY:
Dennis Herschbach
(218) 343-1522
[email protected]
TREASURER/MEMBERSHIP:
Mary Schmidt
[email protected]
ASSISTANT TREASURER:
Susan Stevens Chambers
(507) 278-4200
[email protected]
PAST PRESIDENT:
Dennis Herschbach
appointments >>>
LOMP Poet Laureate:
Shirley Ensrud
MOCCASIN EDITOR:
Meredith R. Cook
HISTORIAN:
Shirley Poliquin
LOMPLIGHTER EDITOR:
Joe Anderson
PUBLICITY CHAIRMAN:
SuzAnne Wipperling
YOUTH CHAIRMAN:
Brendan Brophy
FALL MEETING SPEAKER LOUANN MUHM
LouAnn is a poet and teacher from
Park Rapids, Minnesota. She received
her BA in English from Iowa State
University and a Master of Fine Arts
degree in Poetry from Sierra Nevada
College. She has taught public
school since 1985, as well as
numerous poetry workshops. Her
poems have appeared in Dust & Fire,
The Talking Stick, North Coast
Review, Alba, Red River Review,
Eclectica, Poems Niederngasse, Creekwalker, and
CALYX, and she is a recipient of the 2006 Minnesota
State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant in Poetry. Her
chapbook Dear Immovable was published in 2006, and
her full-length poetry collection Breaking the Glass was
released in May 2008 from Loonfeather Press. Read
LouAnn’s blog at louannmuhm.com
FALL MEETING POETRY CRITIQUE
Do you have a poem that you just can’t finish? Or one that made sense when
you started but doesn’t anymore? If you have a poem that could use the help
of a community of insight, it might be perfect for the Sunday morning poetry
critique. Send your 1-page poem of 40 lines or fewer to Sue Wipperling, 4979
White Gables Trl Apt 8, Brainerd, MN 56401-6935 before October 3. Use a
12-point font (or larger—but keep it on one page) and identify the poetry
form in the top right corner. Send one copy with your name and address and
a second copy with no identifying information. If you prefer, email the poem
to [email protected]
BOOKS TO LOOK FOR
Laura Hansen’s Midnight River, Winner of
the 2015 Stevens Manuscript competition,
available on Amazon.com
Susan Stevens Chambers’s good thunder,
blue earth (River Place Press 2016)
Would you, or someone you know, like to advertise a service, chapbook, or
published work? LOMP members may place a 2.5” x 5” ad in the LOMPlighter
for $25; non-members pay $35. Ads for the November 2016 issue are due
November 4, 2016.
Email ad copy and/or graphics* to [email protected]. Mail payment
to Mary Schmidt, 4921 33rd Ave S, Minneapolis MN 55417.
*Graphics should be at least 1500 pixels wide; preferably in png or eps format.
MEETINGS AND EVENTS
Poetry Contests
MANNINGHAM COMPETITION FOR STUDENTS
Thursday, August 18, 7pm—Writers
Read, Coffee Shop Northeast, 285A
Johnson St NE, Minneapolis
All Minnesota students in grades 6-12 who attend public, parochial, or private
school, or are home-schooled, are eligible. Limit one entry per student. No
entry fee. Poems must be original but may have been published and/or have
won previous awards.
Sunday, August 21, noon—WellPlaced Commas: A Weekly Poetry
Workshop, Fox Egg Gallery, 3730
Chicago Ave S, Minneapolis.
Submit two (2) copies of each poem. In the upper left corner of each copy,
write the division entered (Grades 6-8 Junior Division, and Grades 9-12 S
enior Division). In the upper right corner of one copy, list: the author’s name,
home address, grade, school name, address and phone. Include this statement
with the author’s signature: “This is my original work.” Type the poem
(handwritten copies will NOT be accepted). The poem must not exceed 50
lines, and if it continues on more than one page, staple the pages together.
Saturday, August 27, 2pm—Cracked
Walnut’s Fall Reading Festival kickoff with Indigenous, Electric Machete
Studios, 201 7th St, West Saint Paul
The ten top poems selected by the League of Minnesota Poets will be
submitted to the National Manningham Contest and published in a
chapbook given to the student authors and participating schools.
Mail entries to:
Brendan Brophy
MN Manningham Poetry Competition Chair
1388 10th St NW
Buffalo, MN 55313
All submissions must be postmarked by January 15, 2017.
Friday, September 9, 6pm—
Heartland Poets monthly meeting,
Brainerd Public Library, 416 S Fifth St,
Brainerd
Saturday, September 10, 12:30pm—
Southern MN Poets monthly
meeting, Emy Frentz Gallery, 523 S
Second St, Mankato
Saturday, September 17, 2pm—
Mississippi Valley Poets & Writers
monthly meeting, Location TBD
Tuesday, September 23, 2pm—
Southeastern Minnesota Poets
monthly meeting, St. James Coffee,
4156 18th Ave NW, Rochester
Monday, September 26, 6:45pm—
Grandview Poets monthly meeting,
Grandview Estates, 1125 1st St S,
Sartell
Wednesday, October 5, 7pm—
Simone Muench Poetry Reading,
Weisman Art Museum, William G
Shepard Room, 333 E River Rd,
Minneapolis
LOMP members gathered in July to write, read, and present poetry at the annual
Woodtick Poetry Writing Retreat on Horseshoe Lake, Merrifield.
Friday, November 11, 7:30pm—
Good Thunder Reading Series
presents poets Brian Turner and
Dunya Mikhail discussing “Making
Meaning out of War,” St. John’s
Episcopal Church, 302 Warren St,
Mankato
2016 FALL MEETING LOGISTICS
Staying at the Arrowwood Lodge is like retreating to a cozy
cabin—but with all the comforts of a modern hotel. Reserve
your room before September 14, 2016, to take advantage of a
reduced rate specifically for Fall Meeting attendees. Contact
the hotel by calling 1-218-822-4044 or 1-877-687-5634 and
request the League of Minnesota Poets rate.
The Lodge is located in Baxter just off State Highway 371
about 3 miles north of the intersection of 371 with State Highway 210. Turn left onto Lake Forest Rd (between The Boulder
Tap House and Lake Country Toyota).
Arrowwood Lodge
Registration for 2016 LOMP FALL Meeting
Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16
Name _____________________________________________________ Date _______________________________
Mailing Address _________________________________________________________________________________
City ________________________ State _____ Zip _______________ Phone _______________________________
E-mail address __________________________________________________________________________________
Lodging:
 I have made a reservation at Arrowwood Lodge Hotel
Fee:
 $60 for LOMP members
 I plan to lodge elsewhere.
 $65 for non-members
Registration fee includes speaker, lunch and dinner on Saturday, coffee breaks and gratuities. Please make checks
payable to Heartland Poets and mail to: Suz Wipperling, 4979 White Gables Trl Apt 8, Brainerd, MN 56401-6935
Registration and fee due October 1, 2016.
Lunch on Saturday will be a buffet of soup, salad, sandwiches (including vegetarian alternatives), and
beverage; there will be 3 entree choices for dinner, plus salad or soup, bread, dessert, and beverage.